NAROWAL: Doctors and paramedical staff at DHQ hospital allegedly misbehaved with an attendant of an elderly woman when he repeatedly asked for proper treatment to the patient.

Shamsuddin, a resident of Dudhochak Tehsil, along with his 60-year-old mother Naseem Bibi, was going back to his village on a motorcycle after shopping at Zafarwal Market. Suddenly, Naseem Bibi`s shawl got stuck in the wheel of the motorcycle and she fell on the ground. The injured woman was immediately shifted to Zafarwal Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Shamsuddin told Dawn that theTHQ hospital referred the patient to the Narowal DHQ hospital due to hercriticalcondition afterproviding first aid.

He said the doctors in the DHQ emergency ward advised his mother to undergo laboratory tests and CT scan without proper check-up.

He said the patient was writhing on the bed in the emergency ward due to severe pain. Even after three hours, CT scan and treatment of his mother was not done.

He said the staff of CT scan department was sitting idle and just chatting. He said four or five members of the doctor and paramedical staff allegedly abused him. Shamsuddin, a labourer, alleged that the doctors and para-medical staff of the emergency ward refused to treat his mother and referred her to Lahore. He said the hospital staff had also refused to provide the ambulance to shift the patient to Lahore. He said with the help of the people in the hospital, he took his mother to Lahore in a private ambulance.

Eyewitnesses Muhammad Ashraf and Qasim Ali said the hospital staff allegedly misbehaved with the patient and her attendant.

When contacted, no response was received from Medical Superintendent Dr. Muhammad Afzal.

Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Naveed Haider said he had sought a report from the deputy medical superintendent and action would be taken thereafter.